So do you all remember what is special about today? Do you recall the monotonous ramblings of your history teacher laced with dates and places? Today is June 6 and 63 years ago, during World War II, the Allies made a major assault on the Axis powers in an operation which has come to be known as D-Day.
You can call me pampered American if you will, but I still remember the military heritage that is the foundation of my Air Force.
On this day in 1944, the Allies risked everything on an assault to force Hitler and the Third Reich to its knees. The weather on the English Channel was in the 40s with rain and wind in abbundance. needless to say it was not the best environment. The water temperature sat at a comfortablly cold 52 degrees. Over 150,000 troops set sail under the cloak of darkness to give fascism the kick in the butt it had coming. They were all nervous. They knew the stakes that were involved. Most smoked and prayed like there was no tomorrow. For almost 10,000 of them, there wasn’t. Seasickness was so terrible for some that as they approached the beaches of Normandy they didn’t even care whether or not they got shot — they just wanted to getoff the boat. The battle was intense and ferocious from the instant that the doors on the assault vessels dropped on the Normandy coast. Young men lying on the frigid beach, twisted in impossible contortions, clutching rosaries in their dead fingers was a common image of the day. Countless warriors weighted down with absurd amounts of gear drowned under their own weight, their final memory being that of the chaos of a grey sky raining bullets. The ocean, which had been blue and inviting hours before, ran red with blood and sacrifice. Nothing but death, death, death. Pain and broken hearts. That’s what our grandfathers had to do to beat fascism.
Going into this battle, some men on certain missions had a 1 in 4 chance of making it out alive. Today in Washington DC, you can go to the WW II memorial and see them weep once again asking God what made them so special to have lived.
Why did they do it? Call me crazy, but it’s the same reason I and the rest of hte members of our great military do it today. They did it because they believed it was the right thing to do. They dreamed a common dream of freedom and shared the common nightmare of having their own overrun by dictatorship. In other words, they valued freedom above themselves. There was something more important to them than their own lives. The battles they endured were not glorious, but they was a job that had to be done... and they did it.
So, as a pampered American Airman, I’ll admit to you that when I’m busy fighting the war from my air conditioned office and my computer freezes up, it ticks me off and it drives me crazy. But I make it a point at least once a day, to take a moment to think about some of the flat out crappy conditions our brothers and sisters in arms live — and sometimes die — in. Today is one of those days that seems to make it that much more obvious. The D-day invaders deserve a moment of our reflection. They deserve our eternal gratitude for their sacrifice. They deserve to be remembered. And we need it. Because without them, we are nothing.
"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
New Blog
All right... this is just a quick little not to inform everyone of the new blog I just set up. Whereas this blog has been kind of a mishmash of everything my new blog is specific. And anyone who knows me, even a little bit, should be able to guess what that blog will hinge on...
STAR WARS!
That's right. My new blog, Straight Outta Coruscant (http://myjedihideaway.blogspot.com/), is my place on the web for anything and everything Star Wars related. I will be hosting some of my fanfiction there, as well as giving some of my thoughts on the franchise. So stop by and take a look... and may the Force be with you.
STAR WARS!
That's right. My new blog, Straight Outta Coruscant (http://myjedihideaway.blogspot.com/), is my place on the web for anything and everything Star Wars related. I will be hosting some of my fanfiction there, as well as giving some of my thoughts on the franchise. So stop by and take a look... and may the Force be with you.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
The Fell Clutch of Circumstance...
Lately the stanza that begins with these words from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley has been staying with me. In the last 2-3 months my life has felt like it is in a shambles. I have gone from great joy and certainty to lows which I would not wish on my worst enemy. There have been numerous times where I had wanted to just give in, give up to the seemingly overwhelming stresses of my life.
Yet somehow, someway, I always have come through back into the light of day. Not that I have done anything spectacular to overcome, just that I have accepted the difficulties and waded through them. At times I have felt bludgeoned and bloody, but unbowed. I feel as if I have been blessed with the "unconquerable soul" spoken of in the poem.
I do not know what life holds for me in the future, and sometimes I feel like a ship tossed about on the ocean with tattered sails and splintered rudder. I have felt insignificant and invisible in the vastness of the world's population. I doubt that my life will ever make a significant difference in the events of the world, but it is my life, and it makes a difference to me. And perhaps that is the only truth that I need to know.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Yet somehow, someway, I always have come through back into the light of day. Not that I have done anything spectacular to overcome, just that I have accepted the difficulties and waded through them. At times I have felt bludgeoned and bloody, but unbowed. I feel as if I have been blessed with the "unconquerable soul" spoken of in the poem.
I do not know what life holds for me in the future, and sometimes I feel like a ship tossed about on the ocean with tattered sails and splintered rudder. I have felt insignificant and invisible in the vastness of the world's population. I doubt that my life will ever make a significant difference in the events of the world, but it is my life, and it makes a difference to me. And perhaps that is the only truth that I need to know.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
You think you know me?
Well, here's your chance to prove it! Take the quiz below:
http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=061006001134-727251&
http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=061006001134-727251&
Thursday, September 21, 2006
On a serious note...
"We make war that we may live in peace."
-Aristotle
"Let him who desires peace prepare for war."
-Vegetius
"We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell
"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten."
-Calvin Coolidge
"In war there is no substitute for victory."
-General Douglas MacArthur
For too long now I have stood by and allowed others to speak their minds, to revile and disparage against the leadership of this country, the war we are engaged in in the Middle East, and the military. That is their right as citizens of the United States, a right that I defend day in and day out as a member of the very same military they tear down at every opportunity.
For those out there who believe that we are just some massive war machine, warmongers bent on destruction and chaos, let me say one thing: You will never find more people wishing for peace in this world than in the military community!
War is an ugly business. But there are forces in this world that drive our human societies to engage in it nonetheless. War has existed for the whole of written history, and it existed long before. If you are of a religious belief, the book of Revelation speaks of War in Heaven, between the forces of God and those of Lucifer, who became the Devil.
Do I wish for peace? Absolutely! Everyday I pray for the end to hostilities and the safe return of our troops to their homes. Do I wish to see our forces 'cut and run'? No! It may take more time than we would like, and there will be casualties, but there will be no peace by us turning tail and giving free reign to those who seek to terrorize, brutalize and advocate anarchy.
Those we are fighting want nothing more than the utter destruction of all things in the Western World. They are willing to kill every American, and they don't care if you were for or against the war. So go ahead and continue to rally and raise your voices against the war, and against those who stand between you and the destructive forces of terror. We will continue to protect you, and your rights... to the last full measure!
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
-John Stewart Mill
-Aristotle
"Let him who desires peace prepare for war."
-Vegetius
"We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell
"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten."
-Calvin Coolidge
"In war there is no substitute for victory."
-General Douglas MacArthur
For too long now I have stood by and allowed others to speak their minds, to revile and disparage against the leadership of this country, the war we are engaged in in the Middle East, and the military. That is their right as citizens of the United States, a right that I defend day in and day out as a member of the very same military they tear down at every opportunity.
For those out there who believe that we are just some massive war machine, warmongers bent on destruction and chaos, let me say one thing: You will never find more people wishing for peace in this world than in the military community!
War is an ugly business. But there are forces in this world that drive our human societies to engage in it nonetheless. War has existed for the whole of written history, and it existed long before. If you are of a religious belief, the book of Revelation speaks of War in Heaven, between the forces of God and those of Lucifer, who became the Devil.
Do I wish for peace? Absolutely! Everyday I pray for the end to hostilities and the safe return of our troops to their homes. Do I wish to see our forces 'cut and run'? No! It may take more time than we would like, and there will be casualties, but there will be no peace by us turning tail and giving free reign to those who seek to terrorize, brutalize and advocate anarchy.
Those we are fighting want nothing more than the utter destruction of all things in the Western World. They are willing to kill every American, and they don't care if you were for or against the war. So go ahead and continue to rally and raise your voices against the war, and against those who stand between you and the destructive forces of terror. We will continue to protect you, and your rights... to the last full measure!
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
-John Stewart Mill
Monday, September 11, 2006
5 years...
I recall the day vividly. September 11, 2001. I had arrived at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas, a couple months before, to begin my technical training for the Air Force. At the time I had actually been in the Air Force for 2 years, and had enjoyed it immensely. I thought I had a grasp of what the military was all about.
I had been sitting in my class for hours, and was definitely ready for a break. Petty Officer Bergreen, our instructor (POB G, as we liked to call him), could tell that most of us were drifting and allowed us to take a ten minute break. So as usual, we all drifted out to the lounge area of our schoolhouse, to sit and watch the news, or play chess, etc.
As I stepped into the lounge, I knew something was wrong. The room was filled to near overflowing, but it was deathly quiet. On the television, CNN was running live footage of the World Trade Center, its one tower spewing smoke. I wondered what had happened, but didn't dare ask in the silence. Minutes passed as everyone stared.
It wasn't long before we all were horrified to watch the live feed of a second airliner ram into the other tower, the flames erupting through the other side. Tears flowed freely from even the most hardened eye in the room. The significance of the event magnified exponentially.
At the end of our break our instructor came into the room. He had seen the same footage in the teachers lounge area. He knew what was occurring, understood the significance. Yet he herded us into our room, reminding us that our training didn't stop because of these events. We needed to continue our training if these types of actions were to be stopped.
Our base went to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Delta, which meant a total lockdown of the base. In fact we were not even allowed to leave our building for many hours after the attacks. There was a lot of concern and speculation, as our base was with training focused on military intelligence.
The day continued on like that. Breaks were spent in the lounge watching news coverage of the attacks over and over. More news continued to pour in... the attack on the Pentagon, Flight 93. And conversations hinged on the events for days to come.
Do I remember wher I was on 9-11? Absolutely! It was a day I can never forget. My understanding of my postition as a member of the United States military underwent a significant change. My understanding of the world, and my standing in it has never be the same.
May we never forget the events of that day, or the sacrifices made.
I had been sitting in my class for hours, and was definitely ready for a break. Petty Officer Bergreen, our instructor (POB G, as we liked to call him), could tell that most of us were drifting and allowed us to take a ten minute break. So as usual, we all drifted out to the lounge area of our schoolhouse, to sit and watch the news, or play chess, etc.
As I stepped into the lounge, I knew something was wrong. The room was filled to near overflowing, but it was deathly quiet. On the television, CNN was running live footage of the World Trade Center, its one tower spewing smoke. I wondered what had happened, but didn't dare ask in the silence. Minutes passed as everyone stared.
It wasn't long before we all were horrified to watch the live feed of a second airliner ram into the other tower, the flames erupting through the other side. Tears flowed freely from even the most hardened eye in the room. The significance of the event magnified exponentially.
At the end of our break our instructor came into the room. He had seen the same footage in the teachers lounge area. He knew what was occurring, understood the significance. Yet he herded us into our room, reminding us that our training didn't stop because of these events. We needed to continue our training if these types of actions were to be stopped.
Our base went to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Delta, which meant a total lockdown of the base. In fact we were not even allowed to leave our building for many hours after the attacks. There was a lot of concern and speculation, as our base was with training focused on military intelligence.
The day continued on like that. Breaks were spent in the lounge watching news coverage of the attacks over and over. More news continued to pour in... the attack on the Pentagon, Flight 93. And conversations hinged on the events for days to come.
Do I remember wher I was on 9-11? Absolutely! It was a day I can never forget. My understanding of my postition as a member of the United States military underwent a significant change. My understanding of the world, and my standing in it has never be the same.
May we never forget the events of that day, or the sacrifices made.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Before the Saga awards...
Well, I am finally getting around to writing about the latest fan fiction awards. The Before the Saga awards on theforce.net occurred on Saturday. I had qualified in 4 catergories... Best All Around, Best Songfic, Best Crossover, and Best Author. With those kind of odds you'd think I would come away with one award...
Nope!
I was a little frustrated as I watched the proceedings, because it seemed like... no, I take that back... it WAS the same people winning everything! And I'm not really upset about losing. Only one person could win. But when the same names come up over, and over, and over, and over again, it gets a little tedious and frustrating.
There have been a number of people suggesting that it is all a popularity contest, and I am starting to agree. I looked back over the list of winners from previous awards cycles, and guess what? I find the same names being repeated not only in the same awards ceremony, but year after year!
I understand that they are good authors, but there are plenty of good authors on the site... more so than get recognition. I know a number of folks who have decided to decline nominations rather than sit through the same situation time after time.
Is there a cabal pushing the victory of certain authors? Perhaps. I am not going to come out and say that there is a conspiracy because I don't have solid evidence... but I can't help being suspicious. I will just continue to hold my expectations for winning, low.
Well enough venting. There were plenty of folks out there that I thought should have won, yet were not afforded that opportunity. They remain winners in my book.
Nope!
I was a little frustrated as I watched the proceedings, because it seemed like... no, I take that back... it WAS the same people winning everything! And I'm not really upset about losing. Only one person could win. But when the same names come up over, and over, and over, and over again, it gets a little tedious and frustrating.
There have been a number of people suggesting that it is all a popularity contest, and I am starting to agree. I looked back over the list of winners from previous awards cycles, and guess what? I find the same names being repeated not only in the same awards ceremony, but year after year!
I understand that they are good authors, but there are plenty of good authors on the site... more so than get recognition. I know a number of folks who have decided to decline nominations rather than sit through the same situation time after time.
Is there a cabal pushing the victory of certain authors? Perhaps. I am not going to come out and say that there is a conspiracy because I don't have solid evidence... but I can't help being suspicious. I will just continue to hold my expectations for winning, low.
Well enough venting. There were plenty of folks out there that I thought should have won, yet were not afforded that opportunity. They remain winners in my book.
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